Dani raced down the streets of Stokerville, eager to get home. She'd spent the entire night at Karnstein Manor without her parents' permission, and she'd need to do some damage control. Magical damage control, if she could manage it. She arrived at her home's driveway and rang the doorbell. "¡Hola, Mamá!" Dani called. "I'm back!"
Dani's mother answered. She glared sternly at Dani, scrutinizing her. Dani thanked the Goddess that her cat features and thickened body hair were hidden behind a glamour. "There you are, Daniela Romero-Marquez!" Dani's mother shouted. "Where on earth WERE you last night?! ¡Ay Dios mío! Your papá and I were so worried!"
Dani muttered a spell under her breath. "Oh, silver Moon, make my tongue silver as thee. When I utter my lie, changed shall memory be." She concentrated on the reserve of magical power in her soul, straining to tap into it. It was difficult; the spell she was attempting to cast required quite a bit of power. Implanting a seamless false memory on two people was far from a simple magic trick. The thick black hairs on Dani's arms and legs stood on end as she tried to reach her inner magic. Her feline ears twitched as she scrunched her face. Finally, Dani felt an inner energy begin to stir.
"Well?" her mother prompted.
"You'd better fess up if you don't want to be grounded for the next week," said Dani's father, appearing at the door.
Dani did her best to force a cheerful smile. "You don't remember? I spent the night at a sleepover with my friend Tatiana von Karnstein. You know, one of those rich kids with las madres lesbianas. I asked yesterday afternoon, and you said it was okay."
After a terrifying moment that seemed to last forever, Dani's parents' frowns faded away. "Oh, of course!" Dani's mom laughed. "How could I have forgotten? I hope you had fun with Tatiana."
"Sure did," said Dani. "Now I really need to get ready for school." She rushed up to her room to throw her school supplies together, mentally high-fiving herself for pulling off the enchantment. She couldn't wait to tell Morgana and Vivi! And Taylor and Jinx, for that matter.